| Jill Dawson's debut CD First Time
Around is a very nice time indeed. Dawson's music fits into the acoustic rock-pop
style, a field that is a rather crowded one. But crowed or not, as with any CD, it's
always the content that matters. As most playing this style of music are more or
less pastiches, Dawson stands on her own two feet and she puts her self out there
lyrically. On the song "Better Be (The Last Time)" you have the lyric, "It
was a special day for me, you took me by surprise. You played it cool until we were alone,
I realized you're looking for someone to blame; now we will never be the same." On
"Build and Destroy" Dawson sings "Are you ready to toss these games aside?
Or are you betting I’m a trend, a recent find?, An addiction better left
behind?" But what does a songwriter do; they write songs that reflect that
which is going on in their life and Dawson gives you a peek into what's going on in her
love life, good bad or otherwise. What stands out from the first listen is how well
she sings. Her lilting voice can be both powerful and sweet, she has the ability to draw
you in and make what she sings about believable, not an easy thing to do but she does it
well.
The CD has Dawson with a full band and as a
solo acoustic artist, this is also how she performs. I have seen Jill Dawson both ways,
the first time it was at PowerFest 2000 when she went up on stage with her guitar and was
just great. The second time was with the full band at her CD release party and let me tell
ya it was a great show, her band was and is great. But however you see her you will
be in for a great show. The one song that she does live that will knock you out is her
cover of the 4 None Blonds song "What's Up". What I would like to hear her
sing is Allison Moorer's song "Day You Said Goodbye", I have chills just
thinking about it. If you see this CD around pick it up and if you have the
chance to see her live, do so, you will be in for a real treat.
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